In the previous article (this article), I introduced a new concept: minimalism in thinking. To make our lives simpler and easier, reducing unnecessary ways of thinking would work.
Today, I will introduce how to make it happen.
How to improve our lives
Sometimes, we want to think more simply and logically to improve our lives. To improve our lives, we have to be honest with ourselves. Without it, we cannot move in the direction we desire.
The biggest hindrances would be confusion and emotional reactions.
A typical example of confusion is lying to maintain our superficial lives. Although it can mask the problem in the short term, it increases the burden in the long term. That causes the busyness of everyday life. It is a symbol of a confused state.
Emotional reactions also prevent our honest wants. They often make us overdo one thing while ignoring our physical and mental states.
To think more simply and logically
That is why we want to think more simply and logically.
However, we sometimes don’t know how to do so.
In such a case, thinking broadly and historically might help. It exposes the ‘pretending logic’ and clears the confusion in our minds. Today, I will explain why.
What tool to use in think
Simple, logical thinking requires a broader, more historical perspective. Although they seem contradictory, we have to reconcile them. This is because, without it, we often create ‘pretending logic,’ and it confuses us.
To explain it, let me introduce thinking tools. They are as follows:
- (The simplest) Logic
- Ways of life
- Ways of thinking
- (The more specific) Other specific techniques
The higher the level (the simpler side) we rely on, the simpler we can think with less confusion. However, it requires logical sense. On the other hand, the lower the level (the specific side) we rely on, the easier it is to solve problems even without logical sense. However, it often confuses us because we have to memorize many methods.
What is pretending logic?
Pretending logic is a way of thinking that pretends to be logic.
Here are examples of pretending logic:
- Curry contains spices that are effective against colds, so it is good to eat curry when you have a cold.
- Wine contains a lot of polyphenols, which are good for health, so wine is good for health.
- Smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier, so smiling is good for happiness.
- A study found that practicing gratitude can affect feelings of happiness, so practicing gratitude is good for happiness.
- The price of the S&P 500, one indicator of stocks, has risen over 100 years, so it will go up tomorrow, next month, next year, and 10 years later.
- My parents punished me for not obeying quietly, so I must do so.
- I failed a lot, so my life will be miserable.
Why these ideas are not logical
They all are not logical; they are ways of thinking based on facts. We have to distinguish them.
For example, curry may contain spices effective against colds but that doesn’t mean it is good for health. Try replacing the word curry with poison. ‘This poison contains ingredients effective against colds, so it is good to have it when you have a cold.’ It is unreasonable.
The others are the same. Smiling and practicing gratitude may release brain hormones. The price of the S&P 500 may have risen. Parents might have abused you. You might have failed a lot.
However, they are just facts. They don’t guarantee the latter half of the sentences.
A broader, more historical perspective
A broader, more historical perspective allows us to expose those lies because we can view the whole system.
Logic is something that clarifies how the system works. On the other hand, a way of thinking is a part of the system.
In the curry’s case, the whole system we focus on is a cold; curry is a part. The logic of curry and the logic of a cold are on different levels. If we want to solve the problem, we have to focus on the system of a cold.
The others are the same. Smiles or gratitude are a part of our lives. The whole system is life; smiles and gratitude are parts. If we think logically about happiness in life, we have to focus on the system of life.
In other words, a part cannot explain the whole. Logic is something that explains the whole. On the other hand, a way of thinking can apply to only some cases.
Logic and pretending logic
That is why logic is rare and precious. It is not something that we can easily obtain, especially in a chaotic situation, such as happiness or life.
It means those sentences are ways of thinking that disguise logic. Although they may work in some cases, they don’t explain the logic of life or happiness.
On the other hand, logic clarifies how the system works.
A broader, more historical perspective allows us to find those logical breakdowns easily because it shows which is the whole system and which is the part.
Appropriate logical thinking
This distinction gives us an appropriate awareness of our thinking: we have almost no logic in life, happiness, or the future. We don’t know how the system of happiness works. We cannot predict how we should live. We know neither what the future holds nor how the future unfolds.
They allow us to use ways of life honestly instead of sticking to logic or ways of thinking.
We don’t stick to logic. When we understand we have almost no logic in life, we can break free from the loop of asking ‘Why?’ ‘Why?’ is a question that seeks logic.
We also understand we don’t have to rely on ways of thinking so much. When we know that ways of life make our lives simpler and easier, we can get out of the confusion of too many ways of thinking.
Modifying our ideas
We often misunderstand ourselves.
“I have to be patient.”
“I have to obey quietly.”
“I am a failure. I have no future.”
They are all wrong logically. They are ways of thinking.
Logically appropriate thinking would be as follows:
“I don’t know the future.”
“I cannot judge how this decision works for the future.”
“Balancing my contradictory wants while knowing my ignorance could improve my life easier than assuming the future results.”
Knowing ignorance about logic is wisdom. It clears the unnecessary clutter in our minds. That allows us to make our lives simpler and easier.
Conclusion
That is why seeing broadly and historically might help us think more simply and logically.
It exposes the ‘pretending logic’ and clears the confusion in our minds.
This wisdom might allow you to change our lives fundamentally.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
